| Stanch 1. (v. t.) To stop the flowing of, as blood; to check; also, to stop the flowing of blood from; as, to stanch a wound. 2. (v. t.) To extinguish; to quench, as fire or thirst. 3. (v. i.) To cease, as the flowing of blood. 4. (n.) That which stanches or checks. 5. (n.) A flood gate by which water is accumulated, for floating a boat over a shallow part of a stream by its release. 6. (v. t.) Strong and tight; sound; firm; as, a stanch ship. 7. (v. t.) Firm in principle; constant and zealous; loyal; hearty; steady; steadfast; as, a stanch churchman; a stanch friend or adherent. 8. (v. t.) Close; secret; private. 9. (v. t.) To prop; to make stanch, or strong. Thesaurus Entries arrest, asphyxiate, bar, bind, block, block up, blockade, bottle up, bung, caulk, cease, censor, check, chink, choke, choke off, choke up, clamp down on, clog, clog up, congest, constipate, cork, cork up, cover, crack down on, crush, dam, dam up, damp down, drown, end, extinguish, fill, fill up, foul, gag, halt, hold down, jam, jump on, keep down, keep under, kill, muzzle, obstipate, obstruct, pack, plug, plug up, pour water on, prevent, put down, quash, quell, quench, repress, shut down on, silence, sit down on, sit on, smash, smother, spile, squash, squelch, staunch, stay, stem, stench, stifle, stop, stop up, stopper, stopple, strangle, stuff, stuff up, stultify, subdue, suffocate, suppress, throttle |